ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
Ministry of Communications
Sufficiency of Fibre Networks
As on 30.09.2022, a total of 35.5 Lakh Route Kms Optical Fibre Cable  has already been laid in the country, which will facilitate the increasing demand for better bandwidth, resilient and high volume connectivity. Optical Fibre Cable has the enormous capacity to handle the 5G connectivity. Further, to facilitate faster and easier deployment of telecom infrastructure, Government has amended the Indian Telegraph Right of Way Rules, 2016 on 17th August 2022. These amendments pave the way for deployment of 5G small cells and optical fibre cable on existing street infrastructure.
Government as well as Telecom companies have laid optical fibre cable not only for cross country but also to strengthen urban and remote area connectivity. Major cities and towns across the States/ UTs are adequately connected. BharatNet project is implemented in a phased manner to provide fibre connectivity to all Gram Panchayats  in the country. The scope of BharatNet project has been extended up to all inhabited villages beyond GPs in the country.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Communications, Shri Devusinh Chauhan in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
India’s Cumulative COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage nearly 132 Cr
More than 76 Lakh doses administered in the last 24 hours
Recovery Rate currently at 98.36% is highest since March 2020
7,992 New Cases reported in the last 24 hours
India's Active Caseload  is lowest in 559 days
Weekly Positivity Rate  less than 1% for last 27 days
With the administration of 76,36,569 vaccine doses in the last 24 hours, India’s COVID-19 vaccination coverage has exceeded 131.99 Cr  as per provisional reports till 7 am today. This has been achieved through 1,37,65,868 sessions.
The break-up of the cumulative figure as per the provisional report till 7 am today include:
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HCWs
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1st Dose
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1,03,85,461
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2nd Dose
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95,90,079
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FLWs
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1st Dose
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1,83,82,742
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2nd Dose
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1,66,70,863
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Age Group 18-44 years
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1st Dose
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47,60,97,427
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2nd Dose
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26,46,61,544
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Age Group 45-59 years
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1st Dose
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18,89,84,691
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2nd Dose
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13,18,87,926
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Over 60 years
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1st Dose
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11,81,93,905
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2nd Dose
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8,51,37,844
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Total
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1,31,99,92,482
The recovery of 9,265 patients in the last 24 hours has increased the cumulative tally of recovered patients  to 3,41,14,331.
Consequently, India’s recovery rate stands at 98.36%, highest since March 2020.
Sustained and collaborative efforts by the Centre and the States/UTs continue the trend of less than 15,000 Daily New Cases that is being reported for last 44 days now.
7,992 new cases were reported in the last 24 hours.
India’s Active Caseload is presently at 93,277 is lowest in 559 days. Active cases constitute 0.27% of the country's total Positive Cases, which is lowest since March 2020.
The testing capacity across the country continues to be expanded. The last 24 hours saw a total of 12,50,672 tests being conducted. India has so far conducted over 65.46 Cr  cumulative tests.
While testing capacity has been enhanced across the country, Weekly Positivity Rate at 0.71% remains less than 1% for the last 27 days now. The Daily Positivity rate reported to be 0.64%. The daily Positivity rate has remained below 2% for last 68 days and below 3% for 103 consecutive days now.
Ministry of Finance
One held by CGST Delhi East officials for availing fake input tax credit of Rs 82.23 crore
In the ongoing drive against availment of inadmissible ITC, officers of Central Goods and Services Tax  Commissionerate, Delhi East unearthed a multi-layered network of fictitious firms being used to generate and pass on fake ITC.
Through the use of extensive data analytics, officers identified and searched 21 premises between 15/01/2021 and 17/01/2021, leading to the unraveling of a network of fake firms that were operating since 2017 to pass on fake ITC.
The network of fake firms was being operated by one Shri Arvind Kumar, who used to pass fake ITC for a commission of 4 to 4.5% of the invoice amount. Investigation conducted so far has revealed 46 firms to be fictitious which were being controlled by Shri Arvind Kumar and his associates. These firms had no business activity and had been created solely for the purpose of passing on fake ITC. The total fake ITC quantified so far is Rs. 82.23 crore generated out of the fake billing of Rs. 541.13 crore which is expected to increase as the investigation progresses.
Shri Arvind Kumar was arrested under Section 69 of the CGST Act, 2017 and produced on 17/01/2021 before the Duty Magistrate, who remanded him to judicial custody of 14 days till 31/01/2021. Further investigation in the case is under progress.
It is pertinent to mention here that since the inception of GST Central Tax, Delhi Zone has made 19 arrests in various cases involving GST evasion amounting of more than 3766.69 crore.
PIB Headquarters
Inter School Philately club quiz competition
Philatelic Bureau, Anna Road Head Post Office, Chennai organized the ‘Inter school philately club quiz competition 2019’ to commemorate the Philately day i.e: on 12.10.2019 by involving the school students. Several schools  in Chennai city who have a philately club at their school were invited to participate in the written quiz competition. The students from 50 different schools participated in the written quiz competition.
First prize was secured by Master Ashish Kumar, IX Std of Kendriya Vidyalaya, Island Grounds, Second prize was secured by Master S.Nithilan, IX std of D.A.V. Matriculation Higher secondary school, Mogappair and Third prize was secured by Master R.Goutham Siva, IX std of K.C.Sankaralinga Nadar Higher Secondary school, Old Washermenpet. Three prizes were presented to the students by the Chief Postmaster, Anna Road, H.P.O. Chennai. The Certification of participation was presented to all the participants.
Philatelists were also invited during the quiz, programme and they interacted with students and shared their experience in stamp collectiong, according to the press release issued by the Anna Road H.P.O., Chennai.
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Ministry of Defence
PASSING OUT PARADE OF 144th COURSE
PUNE
The National Defence Academy is the country’s premier Joint Services Training Institution which is the ‘Cradle of Military Leadership’. As NDA celebrates its 75th glorious year of its inception, it is a matter of pride for the 144th Course to pass out this year. The 144th course was inducted in the Jun 2020 and today after completion of three years of rigorous military training the cadets passed out in a ceremonial event. The Passing Out Parade of 144th Course was conducted at Khetarpal Parade Ground, NDA, Khadakwasla on 30 May 2023. Gen Anil Chauhan, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM, VSM, Chief of Defence Staff reviewed the parade.
A total of 1175 cadets participated in the parade of which 356 cadets were from the passing out course. This included 214 Army cadets, 36 Naval cadets and 106 Air Force cadets including 19 cadets from Friendly Foreign Countries . The cadets will hereafter join their respective Pre-Commissioning Training Academics.
BCC Afrid Afroz won the President’s Gold Medal for standing first in the overall order of merit. ACC Anshu Kumarwon the President’s Silver Medal for standing second in the overall order of merit and BCA Praveen Singh won the President’s Bronze Medal for standing third in the overall order of merit. Romeo Squadron bagged the prestigious ‘Chiefs of Staff Banner’, for being the Champion Squadron which was presented during the parade.
The Reviewing Officer congratulated the passing out course cadets, medal winners and the Champion Squadron for their hard work and overwhelming performances. He conveyed his sincere gratitude to the proud parents of the passing out course for sending their motivated wards to join the Armed Forces. He encouraged the cadets to further the spirit of jointness as they grow in service and also emphasised about the revolution in military affairs which are mostly driven by technology ”.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
“Need to Break the Mindset of Working in Silos and Work Collectively Towards Developing Synergy”: Dr. Harsh Vardhan
Inter-Ministerial Coordination Meeting Held at Environment Ministry
Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Dr. Harsh Vardhan has emphasised the need to break the mindset of “working in silos” and to work collectively towards developing synergy for technological solutions and for optimal utilization. Addressing the Inter-ministerial Coordination meeting of 5 Ministries/Departments headed by the Minister that took place at Indira Paryavaran Bhawan here today, Dr. Harsh Vardhan urged the concerned Ministries and departments to identify commonalities for technological solutions that can be taken to various stakeholders. He said that all sorts of problems can be solved through science, but the approach towards it needs to be changed in favour of collaborative efforts and developing synergies. The Minister added that an excellent synergy has already been developed within the Department of Science & Technology , Department of Scientific and Industrial Research , Department of Biotechnology  and Ministry of Earth Sciences  and now the same has to be replicated with the MOEFCC also. Dr. Harsh Vardhan further stated that CSIR, DST, DBT and MOES have excellent research capabilities and the Environment Ministry can be benefited from this.
Underlining the need to formulate well-defined goals and time-bound actions, Dr. Harsh Vardhan said that a working group will be formed and MoEFCC will work as a secretariat, while each of the Ministries will nominate its nodal officers. He strongly emphasized the need to come up with results over the next one year. The Minister also stated that meetings of the joint working group will be held every month and a quarterly meeting will be held at the Minister’s level. However, he also pointed out that the meeting will be attended by all concerned project groups of all the Ministries.
Recollecting the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, talking of “Scientific Social Responsibility”, Dr. Harsh Vardhan averred that there is an urgent need to put science to use for the benefit of people. He urged the scientists and the senior officers present at the meeting to also work out innovative solutions and projects for 115 aspirational districts to improve their Human Development Index .
Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri C.K Mishra, Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Dr M Rajeevan, Secretary, Department of Science & Technology, Prof Ashutosh Sharma, Secretary, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research & DG, CSIR, Dr. Girish Sahni, Secretary, DBT, Prof. K.Vijay Raghavan DG, Forest, and Special Secretary, MoEF&CC, Dr. Siddhant Das, DG, IMD, Dr. K.J Ramesh, Chairman, Central Pollution Control Board , Shri S.P.S Parihar and other senior officers of the 5 Ministries/Departments were among those who attended the meeting.
Ministry of Tourism
Cabinet approves signing of Memorandum of Understanding between India and Argentine in tourism
The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the signing of Memorandum of Understanding between India and Argentinein the field of Tourism.
The signing of MoU between India and Argentine in the field of tourism will help the two parties in creating an institutional mechanism for enhancing cooperation in the tourism sector.
Ministry of Defence
Air Marshal B Suresh PVSM AVSM VM ADC visits Air Force Station Halwara
Air Marshal B Suresh, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Air Command visited Air Force Station Halwara on 03 Jun 2020. On arrival, the AOC-in-C was received by Air Commodore A Bhadra, Air Officer Commanding, Air Force Station Halwara.
During his visit, the AOC-in-C inspected vital installations of the base and assessed operational preparedness. He reviewed all measures taken towards the prevalent COVID-19 pandemic. The AOC-in-C reiterated that we are faced with developing security threats along with the pandemic threat and emphasised the importance of ensuring operational capability through diligent planning and utilisation of resources during these challenging times.
The AOC-in-C conveyed his appreciation for the excellent involvement and commitment to duty displayed by all personnel of the Station and advised them to stay fit and be vigilant considering the current security situation.
IN/BBS
(Visitor Counter : 774
Ministry of Jal Shakti
Extraction of ground water
The Dynamic Ground Water Resource of the country is being periodically assessed jointly by Central Ground Water Board  and State Governments. As per the 2020 assessment, the Annual Ground Water Extraction for all uses is 245 Billion Cubic Metre .
Extraction of groundwater resources in an area depends on a number of factors like industrial applications, drinking/domestic purposes, irrigation requirements, urbanisation etc and therefore, the extraction level vary for different areas across the country. However, in order to assess the long term fluctuation in ground water level, the water level data collected by CGWB  during November 2021 has been compared with the decadal mean of November 2011 to Nov 2020. Analysis of water level data indicates that about 70% of the wells monitored have registered rise in ground water level whereas, about 30 % wells have registered decline in water level.
Central Ground Water Authority  has been constituted under Section 3 of the “Environment  Act, 1986” for the purpose of regulation and control of ground water development and management in the Country. CGWA grants No Objection Certificates  for Ground water abstraction to Industries, Infrastructure units and Mining projects in feasible areas in certain States/UTs whereas in balance areas the regulation is being done by the respective States/UTs. The latest guideline for control and regulation of groundwater extraction with pan-India applicability was notified by the Ministry on 24 September 2020.
Further, the Department has circulated a Model Bill to all the States/UTs to enable them to enact suitable ground water legislation for regulation of its development, which also includes provision of rain water harvesting. So far, 19 States/UTs have adopted and implemented the ground water legislation.
Though water is a State subject, Central Government has taken a number of important measures for conservation, management of ground water including effective implementation of rain water harvesting in the country, which can be seen at
http://jalshakti-dowr.gov.in/sites/default/file/Steps%20taken%20by%20the%20Central% 20Govt%20for%20water_depletion_july2022.pdf.
The Ministry has already finalized the National Water Policy 2012, whose provisions can be appropriately utilized while framing the water legislation by the States/UTs. The Water Policy advocates conservation, promotion and protection of water and highlights the need for augmenting the availability of water through rain water harvesting, direct use of rainfall and other management measures.
This information was given by the Minister of State, for Jal Shakti, Shri Bishweswar Tudu in a written reply in Lok Sabha today..
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions
Jammu & Kashmir grievance system has been integrated with the Central Grievance Portal: Dr Jitendra Singh
Union Minister of State  Development of North Eastern Region , MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh informed here today that the Jammu & Kashmir grievance system has been integrated with the Central Grievance Portal, thus making it the first Union Territory of India to have its district level grievance offices integrated with Central Government Portal of CPGRAMS .
In a significant effort to strengthen the governance mechanisms in Jammu & Kashmir, the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances  in the Union Ministry of Personnel collaborated with the Union Territory Government of J&K to extend and establish Grievance Portal for online grievance redressal. Following a series of discussions, over three months, the Jammu & Kashmir- Integrated Grievance Redress and Monitoring System  has been integrated with the offices of District level in Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir and also with the Central Portal.
Dr Jitendra Singh informed that the Department of Public Grievances in Government of India had collaborated with the Union Territory government of Jammu & Kashmir to implement the pilot phase in the districts and integrate them with the Central Government Portal of CPGRAMS.
Describing it as a successful story of the first-ever experiment to integrate District Portal with State and thereof with the National Portal, Dr Jitendra Singh hoped that this mechanism will also be emulated in other States and Union Territories of India.
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SNC
(Visitor Counter : 436
Ministry of Commerce & Industry
First Consignment of Nagpur Orange Flagged Off to Dubai
Nagpur District Developed as Cluster for Orange by APEDA
First consignment of Nagpur oranges was flagged off to Dubai on 13th February 2020 from Vashi, Navi Mumbai.Total 1500 crates were loadedin the refrigerated container from Vanguard Health Care facility.Nagpur mandarin in one of the best mandarins in the world. Production of this fruit crop in central and western part of India is increasing every year. Mrig crop , which matures in February – March, has great potential for export since arrivals of mandarin fruit in international market are less during this period. According toMaharashtra State Agriculture Department 40 lakh hectare. land is under orange cultivation in Nagpur District and major orange growing pockets are Warud, Katol, Saoner, Kalameshwar and Narkhed in Nagpur and Amravatidistricts. In the whole region only one variety Nagpur Mandarin is grown.
For the implementation of the Agriculture Export Policy,  Nagpur District is being developed as a cluster for Nagpur Orange by APEDA. The APEDA officer in Mumbai has been nominated as a nodal officer for implementation of AEP and cluster development of Nagpur orange.
The first meeting was held on 30th October 2019 last year under the chairmanship of District Collector, Nagpur. After the meeting a cluster development committee of stakeholders was constituted consisting of APEDA,National Research Centre for Citrus, Nagpur, Agri Department of Nagpur District, VANAMATI Nagpur, Maharashtra State Agricultural Marketing Board, Dr.PanjabraoDeshmukhKrishiVidyapeeth, Nagpur MSME, Plant Quarantine Nagpur and MAHA Orange.
Subsequently a Buyer-Seller Meet cum Training programme on Nagpur Orange cluster was held on 5th December 2019 at VANAMATI, Nagpur. Around 150 farmers from Nagpur District, Farmer Producers companies and seven exporters attended the training programme.Technical sessionsand interactions between farmers and exporters was conducted in the training programme. The main focus of the training programme was to increase the exports of Nagpur orange in the Middle East countries and to brand Nagpur orange in the Middle East. It was also explained to all exporters the importance of labelling each fruitand crates of Nagpur orange while exporting.
A field visit was organised on 6th December last year with APEDA, MCDC, State Agriculture Department and exportersto orange growing area at Warud, Katol, Kalameshwar of Nagpur and Amravati districts. After the field visit exporters showedinterest for exporting of Nagpur orange.The interested exporters again visited the same orange growing pockets in the month of January this year.
One of the exporter procured oranges directly from the farmers of Warud Taluka and brought them to APEDA funded VHT Facility at Vashi, Navi Mumbai. At VHT pack house the orangeswere graded and sorted. New plastic crates were designed and developed by the exporter to carry 10 kgs per crate.
The International Trade in 2018 for orange was USD 10183 million. India produced 8781 thousand tons of orange in 2018-19 .
Ministry of Road Transport & Highways
Suggestions invited for amending Motor Vehicle Rules for facilitating MOUs with neighbouring countries involving movement of passenger or goods vehicles
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has invited suggestions and comments from all stake holders including general public on the proposed amendment in the Motor Vehicle Draft rules for facilitating MOUs with neighbouring countries involving movement of passenger or goods vehicles. A Notification to this effect has been issued on the 18th instant, which can be seen at www.morth.gov.in.
A draft notification GSR 392  dated 18th June2020 has been issued by the Ministry which has been receiving requests from various Government Departments and States regarding supporting rules required under the provisions of Motor Vehicles Act 1988, for the facilitation of Movement of Vehicles Carrying Goods and Passengers between Indian States and other neighboringcountries from time to time.
The Ministry has notified rules for the facilitation of bus service between Amritsar and Lahore, between New Delhi and Lahore , between Calcutta and Dhaka and Amritsar and Nankana Sahib . All such regulations have been finalized to facilitate operations under MOUs which have been signed between India and other neighbouring countries. MORTH had also notified rules on 17.10.2018 regarding Movement of Bangladesh registered LPG trucks in Indian Territory for supply of bulk LPG to LPG Bottling Plant at Bishalgarh, Tripura.
Taking into consideration all above mentioned cases and for the facilitating the operation of MOUs, involving movement of goods or passengers between India and neighbouring countries, it has been decided to establish standard guidelines rules for the facilitation of Movement of Vehicles Carrying Goods and Passengers between Indian States and Other Neighboring Countries.
The suggestions or comments in this respect can be sent to the Joint Secretary , Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Transport Bhavan, Parliament Street, New Delhi-110001  upto 17th of July, 2020.